Another point of view on what's happening in Mali

Mali – Boukary Daou is almost free

Today was an important journey for the Malian press. Boukary Daou, the director of Le Républicain newspaper was released from jail until the resuming of his trial on the 16th of April. For Malian journalists it is a small victory.Kassim Traore annouced it early in the afternoon. His colleague is finally free. After having been imprisoned for twenty four days, Boukary Daou joined his family of five children and his happy colleagues. The judge accepted his application for bail on Tuesday. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, he shared his cell with 50 other inmates. It’s only temporary, but it’s a victory for some Malian journalists who feared that freedom of press has completely disappeared in Bamako. The director of Le Républicain was arrested for the publication of an open letter adressed to the army. His crisis committee is also “optimistic” about the “justice” according to Mahamane Hamèye Cissé, one of the members of the committee which supported Boukary Daou from the beginning.

Boukary Daou in the middle after his release, betwwen his two colleagues, Samby Touré and Kassim Taoré. Courtesy of Kassim Traoré

The support came also from the director of the Africcan editor forum, Chériff Sy who held a press conference on the 27th of March. He said he was very confident that Boukary Daou would be soon relased. And he spoke to the Ministry of Communication and the Ministry of justice about the case. He also played the role of a mediator between both parties and try to convince the crisis committee to stop the boycott of National institutions. Boukary Daou’s case is not yet closed.

The Malian media are waiting to see what will be the final judgement mid-April. The journalist was also released under conditions. He committed himself to not publish again the letter. But for now he is celebrating and he will meet with other journalists at the House of press tomorrow for a general assembly.